Former Bulldog becomes an “Ironman”

Tuesday

Nov 26, 2013 at 5:00 PM

Tyler Ackerman calls it the best and most painful day of his life.

Tyler Ackerman calls it the best and most painful day of his life. It was August 25, 2013: the day the former Carmi-White County standout athlete earned the right to be called "Ironman." Ackerman, a 2010 CWCHS graduate and former Bulldog runner, finished the Ironman Louisville Triathlon in Louisville, Ky. on that date. The grueling competition consists of a 2.4-mile swim in the Ohio River, followed by a 112-mile bike ride, and climaxed by a 26.2-mile run. Ackerman, a senior at the University of Illinois and a member of the Illini triathlon team, finished in 12 hours, 43 minutes. He was 36th in his division (18-24-year-old males) and 857th overall out of over 3,000 competitors. "It was by far the most rewarding experience of my life," said Ackerman. "Ironman is just as much a mental test as a physical one. ...Jumping into the Ohio River and thinking after I finish swimming over two miles, I have to go ride 112 miles, and then go run a marathon is pretty daunting, so it's a mental battle all day to stay level headed and focused." Ackerman did stay focused on the task at hand, though, and said he drew lots of inspiration from the crowd during the final marathon stage. "The city of Louisville was awesome," he said. "There were always people cheering for me the whole 26 miles, which was really uplifting. By mile 18, I wanted to be done. That was the hardest part of my day - from mile 18 through 24. Dad [Dean Ackerman] was at mile 25 and I remember giving him a high five as I ran by and from there it was pure adrenaline. "That last mile was the greatest mile of my life and I've run quite a few of them over the years. I saw my mom [Jaci Ackerman] and sister [Katelyn Ackerman] and friends right before I hit the line and then it hit me that I was and always will be an Ironman." Ackerman is not the only Carmian who can claim that moniker. Brock Bolerjack also completed the Ironman in Louisville in 2008, and gave Ackerman advice on the task. "Brock's been a big help in my preparation," said Ackerman. "We talked multiple times about race strategies and he's given me some great tips about what to expect. That was a huge help going in. "I'm so thankful for everyone who's pushed me along the way, including all my coaches from high school and up, and all the guys who ride in Carmi - Pete DiMaggio, Dave Matheny, Rick Kuykendall and Brock. Those guys really taught me how to ride at a competitive level over the years. My teammates have also pushed me to become a better triathlete, and my parents have always been supportive of me in everything I do. This was the best experience of my life, but I'll be back. My Ironman days are far from over." Ackerman said he turned all of his training focus toward the Ironman after competing in the Collegiate Triathlon National Championships in April. "It has always been something I've wanted to accomplish and at that point in my college career, it was the perfect time to go for it," said Ackerman. "I had signed up about a year in advance, so it was always in the back of my mind. But until April, most of my training focus was on helping the Illini compete for a national title. "After April, though, I was training anywhere from 15 to 25 hours a week. Those six-to-seven-hour training days wear down on you pretty fast, but I enjoyed every single minute. It's amazing what your body can withstand and I love pushing the limits. "That's the thing about Ironman that I found so alluring; it's not just a one-day race, it's months and months of preparation and pushing your body to the limit every single day. Once race day comes, all the work's been put in you just have to go out and soak it all in." Ackerman and the rest of his U of I triathlon teammates will be traveling to Tempe, Ariz. for the 2014 Collegiate National Championships in April.

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